Dr Sam Ainsley
Sam Ainsley is an artist and teacher and until recently was Head of the MFA Programme at The Glasgow School of Art. She has forged a remarkable career within the visual arts sector nationally and internationally. In 1991 she co-founded the Master of Fine Art course having taught at GSA since 1981, she has been the course Director since its inception. She is a respected and published spokeswoman for the visual arts and her own artwork is in a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally.
She is a respected and published spokeswoman for the visual arts and her own artwork is in a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally. Ainsley has contributed to a broad range of visual art initiatives in Scotland and has served as a Board member on The Scottish Sculpture Trust, The Arts Trust of Scotland, and many others. She was appointed to the Council of the Scottish Arts Council in 1998 and Chaired the Visual Art Committee at the SAC for two terms of office. Her extensive International travel and invited role as a visiting artist and curator have enhanced her informal position as an “International Ambassador” for Scottish Art and Artists.
Red Cocoon by Sam Ainsley
She has exhibited in and curated independent exhibitions and undertaken residencies in numerous institutions and arts organisations across the USA, Australasia, Europe and the UK. She remains an external advisor to many MFA courses including Liverpool John Moores & Newcastle University and is the Visitor to the Royal Academy Schools. Recent presentations of her work include ‘New Scots’, RSA Edinburgh, 2008 and a recent two person show “Atlas of Encounters” at I Space Gallery, Chicago in February 2009.
Sam recently undertook a collaborative 3 year residency at Glasgow Sculpture Studios alongside David Harding and Sandy Moffat. The three eminent artist are commonly know as AHM (Ainsley Harding and Moffat). On the 15th of June all three were awards honorary doctorates by Glasgow School of Art.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Blood Wedding by Sam Ainsley Arcrylic on canvas 4X3m Keith Hartley Collection Scottish Gallery of Modern Art
Leeds City Gallery
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Jardine Collection, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh
20th Century Collection of Women’s Art, New Hall, Cambridge
Bank of America, London.
Hunterian Museum, Glasgow.
Highland Council.
Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow